Microcirculation : the official journal of the Microcirculatory Society, Inc
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Therapeutic angiogenesis requires an understanding of how growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) result in physiological neovascularization. This study determined the physiological mechanism by which adenoviral delivery of growth factor combinations alter vascular phenotype and functionality. ⋯ Ang-1 and VEGF use different physiological mechanisms to enhance neovascularization of relatively avascular tissue. Administration of both growth factors combines these physiological mechanisms to give greater enhancement of neovascularization than either growth factor alone. These results suggest that effective revascularization therapy may require combination growth factor treatment.
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Comparative Study
Glucocorticoids inhibit the cerebral microvascular dysfunction associated with sepsis in obese mice.
Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. It is unclear whether this increase is due to exaggerated inflammatory response alone or due to lack of response to therapeutic agents used. The objective of this study was to determine whether low-dose steroid therapy, which has proven effective in clinical setting, affords any benefit in the increased morbidity to sepsis in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice. ⋯ Low-dose glucocorticoid therapy is beneficial in experimental sepsis in obese animals compared to lean animals.